Sudden fear. By Joseph Kaufman Productions, Inc.
Type of Work: Motion Picture
Registration Number / Date: RE0000073246 / 1980-12-18
Renewal registration for: LP0000001940 / 1952-08-07
Title: Sudden fear. By Joseph Kaufman Productions, Inc.
Copyright Claimant: Gothic Productions, Inc. (PWH)
Copyright Note: C.O. correspondence.

Variant title: Sudden fear
Names: Joseph Kaufman Productions, Inc.
Gothic Productions, Inc.

Well, this was a pleasant surprise for me, as I 'd never heard about this film before. I really enjoyed it, and despite its being an "oldie," I found it nerve-wracking, because I couldn't see which way it was headed.
The theme is banale (spoiler) - a guy marries a woman for her money, then he and his lover decide to kill her. But the lady is no dummy, so things twist and turn, and the timing of events is perfect. The weak link is Palance, who's a bit stiff and freaky. Joan Crawford, however, is downright mesmerizing. See it !

I may be biased towards it due to my preferences, but I feel that Joan Crawford should have won her Oscar for this film (or Possessed) instead of Mildred Pierce (not knocking that one, still a great film and great performance from Joan).

It's truly suspenseful after the first forty-five minutes, and Crawford's top-notch performance is like she's in a silent film. Move over, "Bette Davis eyes".

Jack Palance sends shivers down my spine just with his looks. Gloria Grahame is too cool to act, but it works perfectly here.

To think that only the next year, with Torch Song, she would become Joan the scary, drunken, campy ham. Good performances were few and far between after that point (Autumn Leaves and What Ever Happened To Baby Jane are the only exceptions).

Also, this film made me a Crawford fan. And it was my first one.

Gloria copped Best Supporting Actress @ the '53 Acad Awards. But not for this turgid costume piece....she got it for her role in The Bad and the Beautiful. I usually like Palance pix a lot....but Sudden Fear is missing some vital spark. Not sure if I can make it through the whole thing.

Very intense film,
Very staged. Nice beginning the twist is set early on.
Palance is very believable as the besotted husband, but besotted with Crawford's money - but at first glance not enough motive to kill someone. until Gloria Grahame, comes in, and he looks like he could kill HER another twist for 'screwing up his nest egg.
To me, but it could be interpenetrated anyway he makes a choice to go over to the bad side of Grahame.

There are times - maybe I am a romantic I feel maybe he will fall in love with Crawford's Myra. Crawford has such great appealing eyes. But that TAPE where Palance and Grahame are plotting to get rid of Myra (Crawford) for her money makes you know they are going to go through with it. -Great scene when she hears them on the tape.

A long film - Crawford was great, Palance was pretty good. Grahame who I like as an actress was 'annoying' in the acting sense that she did not let up with the pressure on Palance .
They all deserve their award. Crawford was head and shoulders above them all. No wonder her and Betty Davis were always competing there was no one to match these ladies for Acting and Magic Eyes.

I would Highly recommend this film but concentrate

good one